Alkaline battery containing chromium and mercury.



v the active material or charge a long period of efficiency,

WILLIAM MORRISON, or nns' MoINEs, IOWA. I

ALKALINE BATTERY oou'rantme GHRGMIUM AND MERCURY.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLIAM Monnrson,

a citizen of the United States of America,

mercury is present in the anode, or negative=pole electrode, and one in which the zinc will not dissolve in the electrolyte in the discharge of the battery.

A further object is the production of a battery of moderate cost that will hold its over a long time and will also.have

These and such other objects as may hereina fter appear are attained by my invention. i

1' find that a battery in which the negative-p'ole electrode contains a zinc-chromium compound together with a sufiicient amount of mercury, gives excellent results and will hold its charge over a much longer period of time than the batteries now in use.

In the formation of the battery, I use an alkaline electrolyte positive support within or on which I place materiaLto-becomeactive. I find in this type'of battery that a mixture of a zinc-chromium compound with for an active material. I

I find in the Working of the battery that zinc is substantially insoluble in the solution in the presence of the chromium compound, even though the zinc be greatly in excess of the amount which would combine with the chromium to form a definite chromite. It is the action of the chromic oxid that prevents the zinc. from dissolving in the solution on the discharge, and the pres ence of the mercuryfmakes itpossible for the battery to hold its charge over a long period of time. a

I find that good results may be obtained oxid of mercury is extremely well suited.

in the' iollowmg manner, 'to which, however, am not limited: Sulfates of zinc and chromium are dissolved Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 22, 1909. Serial No. 529,187.

causing. the zinc oXid and any suitablesium, although a workable battery is drate of potassium or sodium.

in water, and sufiicient potassium hydrate is added to precipitate a zinc chromium oxygen compound. The compound formed may not be .zinc chromite but does contain associated oxide of zinc and chromium, erably being in excess of the amount corresponding to a chromite.- This precipitate is then thoroughly Washed, preferably in hot water to which a little alkali has been added. I then dissolve mercury in nitric acid and add an alkaline solution, whereby an oxid of mercury is precipitated. This precipitate is also thoroughly -washed, preferably in hot water. The two precipitates are then thoroughly mixed, and the resulting mixture is applied to the support or grid. In applying the material, I preferably use considerable pressure in order to firmly fix the material in place. I also preferably place a porous covering over the active material to avoid any chance of its falling away from the support.

I find that the chromium compound, even in convert thezinc into a chromite, has the specific property of substantially preventing the zinc from dissolving in the solution,

or hydroxid to assume a fioceulent condition in'which it will not pass through the rounding. the active mass.

Vhile not necessary, I prefer to use an electrolyte comprising a potassium hydrate solution containing a small amount of chromium, for instance, chromateof potasproduced by using simply a solution of hy- I claim the zinc oxid pref-' porous covering sur- Patent-editor. 115, i910.

small amount, entirely insufficient to i '1. In a reversible alkaline battery, an-

anode, or negative-pole electrode, containing an oxidizable metal and a chromium compound. a

-2. In a reversible alkaline battery, an anode, or negative-pole electrode, containing an oxidizablemetal,. a chromium compound and mercury.

3. In a reversible alkaline battery, an

anode, or negatire-pole electrode, contain ing an oxidizable metal and a chromiumoxygencompound.

4. In a reversible alkaline battery, an anode, or negative-pole electrode, containing an oxidlzslble metal, a'chromium-oxy- 6. In a reversnble alkaline battery, m

anode, or negative-pole electrode, contain ing zinc, achromium-oxygen compound and mercury.

Signed by -19tl1 day 0: November, 1909.

\Vit'nesses WM. B. Duamon, ELLEN H. CLEGG.

- 10 me at Chicago, Illinois, this 

